University Unions

UPBOO: The Spookiest Craft Night of the Season

Taylor Down Under was abuzz this past Thursday from 7-8:30 pm as University Program Board put on UPBOO, an event where JMU students of all years put on their Halloween costumes a little early and make scary good crafts. A classic Halloween playlist kept the atmosphere in the spooky spirit. “Thiller” played as hot apple cider, hot cocoa, and deliciously decorated sugar cookies were laid out as scrumptious snack for all in attendance.

When first entering TDU, attendees were able to sign up for a costume contest where the grand prize was a meet-and-greet ticket with Dave Coulier. A long table was pushed together, summer-camp craft room style, scattered with orange, yellow, white, and black paints to decorate their tall mason jarsworked on candy corn inspired designs, perfect for sipping apple cider while watching the leaves fall.

Photo taken by Rachel Crowe at UPB’S UPBOO event.

Freshman history major, Sophia Lilacabana said, “I love Halloween-like a lot-and I love arts and crafts so any chance to combine the two and I’m there.”

Many who attended seemed to agree with her, as the craft table overflowed quickly over into the rest of TDU. Most students opted to paint instead of get messy with glue and yarn to make the hand pumpkin–to keep their hands clean for cookies, of course. Many UPB members also participated, grabbing their own mason jars or coming in costumes, complete with cat ears or capes.

Senior SMAD creative advertising major, and UPB Special Events Director, Laura Quinones, was looking for something fun and seasonal to provide for the JMU community. “We [The Special Events Committee] have to put on two fun events per month and we thought in October we would try to do something to kick-off Hallo-Hoco weekend!” While the winner of the costume contest was given meet-and-greet tickets, UPB was also raffling them off. “We really want to promote our upcoming comedian Dave Coulier, and what better way to do that than with Halloween themed arts and crafts?”

Some participants chose to abstain from crafting and instead grabbed a hot cocoa and observed their friends painting while discussing costumes for the upcoming holiday. One student was adamant that she was going to be the most realistic Wonder Woman on campus, while another bunny vs. cat ears. The handful of students who participated in the costume contest dazzled the room with their cosplay prowess. Though they declined an interview or a photo-op, they nevertheless looked outstandingly in the spirit of JMU Halloween.

Whether people came for crafting, costuming, cider, cookies, or comedy tickets, they had a spook-tac-ular time at UPBOO. With “Monster Mash” playing in the background, laughter filling TDU, and the familiar smell of non-toxic paint, this Halloween was eagerly awaited.